Package binding tool



April 20, 1937. A. PERRELET PACKAGE BINDING TOOL Filed March 20, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l A. PERRELET PACKAGE BINDING TOOL April 20, 1931.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1935 J72 v-e nfor armcvzdflrre/ez as; M, 4

April 20, 1937. A. PERRELET 2,077,491

PACKAGE BINDING TOOL Filed March 20, 1955' 5 Sheets-Sheet s Slllll 7 J mgfiz oo H 629 77262720, L/ er'r'eZeZ 25 V M r 20 Lil jwmayw wmf $14. 12 15 V fz fya.

Patented Apr. 20, 1937- PATENT OFFICE PACKAGE v BINDmG TOOL Armand Perrelet, Paris, France, assignor to Signode Steel Strapping Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application March 20, 1935, Serial No. 12,094

In Fl 7 4 Claims.

My invention relates to package binding tools.

It relates more particularly to a tool for applying tension to a package or package-group encircling binder and, after the desired tension is attained, for joining overlapping portions of the binder to render the 'tensioned loop permanent about the package or package-group.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a tool which is particularly useful under conditions wherein the binder may be sufficiently tensioned and the joint between overlapping portions thereof may, because of its relatively small size or character, be produced by the gripping power of the hand.

Another object is to provide a tool whereby the tensioning of the binder and the joining of the overlapping portions thereof may be accomplished by the gripping'or closing action of one hand upon a single pair of handles.

20 Another object is to provide atool whereby both the binder-tensioning and joint-forming operations may be performed without exerting extra pressure against the package or group of packages being bound.

Another object is to provide a combined bindertensioning and joint-forming tool which is simple, reliable, compact and small, and handy and easy to manpulate and operate.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter 30 appear.

An embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the tool in a typical location on a package being bound,--the full lines 35 showing the tool in binder-tensioning condition and the dotted lines showing it in condition to make the joint between the overlapping portions of the package encircling tensioned binder;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the tool in joint- I O forming condition, substantially at the comple tion of the joint, the binder being in section ahead of the joint;

Fig. 3 is a top plan of the tool; Fig. 4 is a side elevation from the side opposite Fig. 1, with the tool in binder-tensioning condiance March 30, 1934 main frame which rests upon or against the package or one of a group of packages being bound and a pair of handles operable by the simple closing or gripping action of one hand, both to tension the'binder and to formthe joint between overlapping portions thereof. During the operation of the tensioning mechanism the joint-forming mechanism is held in an inactive relationship with respect to the overlapping binder portions but by the release of a latch, the joint-forming mechanism may be moved into active relationship with respect to the overlapping binder portions, whereupon a closing or gripping action of the operators hand upon the handles effects the formation of the joint. The main frame of the tool consists of a generally L-shaped member l0 having an upstanding flange ll and a foot I2 lying at right angles thereto. On one side of the tool (the rear side) foot I! extends forwardly into line with the region where the joint is formed, but on the other side, i. e., the front side, it does not so extend (see particularly Figs. 2 and 8) in order to facilitate the application to the overlapping binder portions of a sleeve or so-called seal which, in

some instances, is used to encircle the overlapping:

portions and formpart of the finished joint. A serrated and preferably hardened gripper plate l3, which may be in the form of a screw-threaded plug screwed into a suitable threaded opening through foot l2, constitutes a stationary gripper for holding the lower of the two overlapping binder portions. The binder B, shown in the form of a flat strip of flexible steel strap, is tensioned about the package or group of packages by moving the upper free end b past the lower stationary end 1)" thereof.

The binder tensioning mechanism includes a serrated, and preferably hardened, feed wheel l5 which is carried by and journaled upon an eccentric shaft l6. Shaft i6 is journaled at one end in flange ll of the main frame. It is also journaled in and supports an auxiliary frame consisting of two side plates l1 and I8. This auxiliary frame is provided with a rearwardiy extending handle l9 rigidly associated therewith. In the tool illustrated in the drawings, this handle is formed integrally with side plates H, as most clearly shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 6. Feed wheel I! has a ratchet wheel rigidly attached thereto by suitable means, such as pins. 2|. Ratchet wheel ITis engaged and rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 6 by an "actuating pawl 22; its rotation in the opposite direction is prevented by a holding pawl 23 (see Fig. 6).

Actuating pawl 22 is carried by the inner end of an actuating handle 25 on a pivot 26. It is biased to ratchet wheel engaging position by a spring 21, one end of which is attached; to the heel of the pawl and the other end being attached to handle 25 by means of a hook 28. Holding pawl 23 is carried between the side plates on a pivot pin 29 and is biased to ratchet wheel engaging position by a spring 30, one end of which is attached to the heel of the pawl and the other end being-attached to a pin 3| anchored between and to the side plates. Actuating handle 25 is pivotally carried by the auxiliary frame upon a bolt 32- passing through the side plates l1 and I8 and is located between the reaction handle l9 and the plane of foot l2, i. e1; between the reaction handle and package position.

The binder tensioning operation is eflected by the mere closure of the hand squeezing or gripping actuating handle 25 towards stationary hanparticularly dle |9,'which latter serves as an abutment or reaction handle for the heel of the palm of thehand. When thus moved the actuating handle carries forward the actuating pawl 22 to rotate the ratchet wheel and thereby the serrated feed wheel in the direction of the arrow. Reverse movement of the feed wheel upon the release and return of the actuating handle is prevented by holding pawl 23. This rotation of the feed wheel moves the upper overlapping binder portion b forwardly (toward the left as viewed in Figs. 1 and 6) and, because the lower end b" of the binder is anchored by being pressed against the stationary gripper in the foot of the tool, the binder loop is tightened about the package or group of packages encircled by it. Thus by repeatedly squeezing the actuating handle toward the stationary or abutment handle and releasing the same, the binder loop encircling a package or group of packages may be tightened step by step to any desired extent.

A gripper lever 35 enables the feed wheel bodily tobe moved toward the stationary gripper to clamp the overlapping strap ends therebetween during the tensioning operation, and to be moved away from the stationary gripper to enable the overlapping strap ends to be inserted therebetween during the application of the tool to the work and removed therefrom when the tool is to be taken from the work. This lever 35 is rigidly attached to feed wheel shaft l6 and is normally biased by' a spring 36 to a position against a stop pin 31,-in which position the feed wheel is in its extreme binder gripping relationship with respect to the stationary gripper i3. However, because of the eccentricity of shaft l6, the rocking of lever 35 toward the rear of the tool (1. e., toward the right as viewed in Fig. 1) moves the feed wheel away from the stationary gripper to provide ample space for the insertion therebetween and the removal of the overlapping binder portions. A coiled spring 33, which surrounds shaft 6, bears at one end against feed wheel l5 and at the other end against the end of an annular recess in a sleeve 39 that surrounds and is secured to shaft 6 and thus serves to prevent end play or looseness of shaft IS.

The joint-fomiing or sealing mechanism is carried by the auxiliary frame and, as will be hereinafter explained, may be moved into and out of active relationship with respect to the overlapping binder portions between which the joint is to be made. Various types of such binder Joints are well known. The type of joint made by the mechanisrn'to be now described is of the general type illustrated in such patents as No.

1,437,525, issued December 5, 1922, but it will be.

readily understood that by suitable modifications of that mechanism other types of sealjoints may be produced by my improved tool. The mechanism includes a pair of pivoted Jaws 49 and 4| and a relatively stationary abutment or anvil 42, which lies between the tips of the jaws and against which they press the overlapping binder ends during the formation of the joint. Forming pins 43 and 44 fixed in or formed integral with the respective jaws constitute the principal deforming agency for effecting the formation of the joints. A suitable construction and relationship of forming pins and jaws is illustrated in detail, for example, in R. T. Edwards Patent No. 1,924,845, issued April 29, 1933. The anvil 42 is rigidly attached to an elongated block 45 by a pin 46 or set screw. Block 45, which serves as a slide or guideway in addition to a support for the anvil, is rigidly held between and secured to side plates l1 and N1 of the auxiliary frame by means of pins 41 and a bolt 48. Jaws 40 and 4|, intermediate their, ends, are pivotally attached to anvil 42 on pivot pins 49 and 53, respectively.

The rear ends of jaws 40 and 4| are respectively connected by pivot pins 55 and 56 to one end of links 51 and 58. A spring 59 interconnecting .pivot pins 55 and 56, biases the upper ends of jaws 40 and 4| toward each other and, consequently, tends to retain the jaws in open ccndi-.

tion. The upper ends of links 51 and 56 are pivotally connected by pivot pins 6| and 62 to a sliding crosshead 53. crosshead 63 is provided with a slot in its rear face to receive the forwardly projecting edge of guide block 45 and permit the crosshead to reciprocate up and down. A link 65 is connected at one end to crosshead 63 by a pivot pin 66 and is connected at its other end to a lever 61 by a pivot pin 68. Lever 61 is pivotally mounted, intermediate its ends, between a pair of upstanding brackets 69 and 10 which are formed integrally with side plates l1 and 8. The pivot pin 1| journaled in brackets 69 and 10, serves as a pivotal axis for lever 61. Lever 61 extends through a slot in stationary handle l9 and, at its rear end, carries a roller 12 which bears upon actuating handle 25.

When the actuating handle 25 is brought toward the stationary or abutment handle, crosshead 63 is forced downwardly and, by the consequent thrust of links 51 and 58, the upper ends of jaws 40 and 4| are made to separate and the jaw tips are forced to approach each other. When the tool is in binder-tensioning condition, the jaws are held above the overlapping portions of the binder so that the binder is not engaged and affected thereby. When, however, the joint is to be formed, the sealing mechanism may be lowered so that the jaw tips embrace the overlapping binder portions and then, when brought together, deform the same into the joint. This retention and release of the sealing mechanism is effected by a pivoted latch 15. Latch 15 is pivotally connected to the side plate H of the auxiliary frame by a pivot pin 16. The forward end of this latch is adapted to engage against a shoulder 11 of the main frame and its rear end is formed into a thumb piece 18 whereby the forward end may be raised to disengage shoulder 11. Acoil spring 19 biases the latch toward shoulder-engaging position anda stop pin 80 limits this movement in the reverse direction..

Normally, or when the tool is in binder-tensioning condition, latch engages shoulder 11 so'that when the foot is flat against a package, the sealing mechanism is held slightly tilted and elevated with the tips of the jaws above the hor- In order that the actuation of handle 25 to effeet the formation of the joint may-not result in the binderbeing further tensioned, the actuating pawl of the tensioning mechanism is provided with a pin 8I which projects through an opening 82 in side plate I'I into the path of a cam surface 83 on mainframe 'II. is in binder-tensioning condition, this pin 8| is out of contact with cam 83, as shown particularly in Fig. 4, and the actuating pawl may engage the ratchet wheel to-rotate feed wheel I5.

When, on the other hand, the auxiliary frame is tilted to move the joint-forming mechanism into active position relative tothe overlapping binder, then pin 8I engages cam 83 and is held thereby to retain actuating pawl 22 out of engagement with ratchet wheel 22. In-this condition, of course, the movement of the actuating the binder portions in proper overlapping relationship, the operator may apply the tool to the work in such a way that the overlapping portions of the binder lie between the feed wheeland the stationary gripper and the foot of the tool rests flat upon the package. The gripper lever 35 is now released and its biasing spring 36 causes the eccentric shaft to rotate to lower the feed wheel upon the upper binder portion 1). The overlapping binder portions are now gripped be-. tween the feed wheel and the stationary gripper and the tool is ready to tension the binder. The operator now reciprocates the actuating handle by alternately closing and opening his right hand, thereby first squeezing or gripping the actuating handle toward the stationary handle I9 and then releasing it. As handle 25 approaches handle I9, actuating pawl 22 engages ratchet wheel 20 and rotates it in the direction of the,

arrow shown in Fig. 6. This rotation of the feed wheel advances the upper binding portion 12 over the lower portion b" which is held stationary by gripper I3. Upon the release of the actuating handle, the jaw biasing spring 59 causes it to retract the actuating pawl to engage another tooth on the ratchet wheel 2 I, but the ratchet and feed wheels are prevented from rotating backwards by holding pawl 23. This operation is repeated to advance the upper binder portion until the desired tension in the binder is attained. Inasmuch as the thickness of the overlapping binder portions do not permit the eccentric shaft to When the tool regain its normal position with lever 35 against stop 31, the eccentricity of the feed wheel mounting causes the feed wheel automatically to increase its grip or bite upon the upper'binder portion as the tension increases.

When the desired tension is attained, the oper ator, with his thumb, may disengage latch I5 from shoulder 11 and then the auxiliary frame may be tilted to bring the sealing mechanism into active relationship with respect to the overlapping binder portions, 1. e., the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and in Figs; 2 and 5. In thus tilting the sealing mechanism into operative position, the operator is assisted by the action of biasing spring 36 and by the tension of the binder acting through feed wheel I5 and ratchet wheel 20 upon'holding pawl 23. In this condition, with the handles separated, the jaws are automatically open because of the action of biasing spring I5 and the tips thereof pass below the plane of the binder. Now, when the actuating handle is again brought toward the stationary or abutment handle, the jaws engage the binder and deform the overlapping portions thereof into a tension re sisting seal-joint which holds them together.

During this operation the actuating pawl of the tensioning mechanism is held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, as previously explained, and consequently no additional tension is placed upon the binder as the joint is formed. It will be noted that the efficiency of the leverage between the actuating handle 25 and link 65 is greatest when the handles are most widely separated. This is of advantage because the gripping power of the hand is least when it is widely open.

Because the actuating handle, which is common to both the tensioning and sealing mechanisms, is positioned between the reaction handle and package position and all of its effective movements are toward the reaction handle and away from the package, it is unnecessary for the operator to exert extra pressure upon the package when operating the tool.

In order properly to gage the position of the overlapping binder portions between the feed wheel and stationary gripper (i. e., prevent the binder being inserted too far into the tool) and to retain this relationship, a hardened steel block or guide 84 may be secured in place at the angle between the foot and upstanding flange of the main frame. This guide may be replaced when it becomes worn and, by varying its width, the tool can be adapted for operation upon binders of different widths.

From the foregoing description of the structure and typical mode of operation, it 'will be readily understood that my improvedtool may be operated entirely by only one hand of the operator, leaving the other hand free properly to position the binder with respect to the gripping and sealing mechanisms and, if the joint is to include an encircling sleeve or seal, to place the sleeve or seal in proper position at-the proper time. v

Having thus illustrated and described the nature and one embodiment of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A package binding tool comprising a main frame having a. foot for resting on the thing to be bound, an auxiliary frame pivoted to the main frame, a handle rigidly associated with the auxil- I iary frame, a binder tensioningmechanism, an

- mechanism, a joint-forming mechanism carried by the auxiliary frame, an operative connection between the actuating handle and the joint-forming mechanism whereby the actuating handle as it moves toward and from the first-mentioned handle operates the joint-forming mechanism, said pivotal connection between the two frames permitting the auxiliary frame to be moved so as to bring the joint-forming mechanism into and out of active relationship with respect to the binder, and a manually releasable latch for holding the auxiliary frame in position to retain the joint-forming mechanism out of active relationship with respect to the binder.

2. A package binding tool comprising a main frame having a foot for resting on the thing to bebound and upon which the overlapping por-' tions of binder may lie, an auxiliary frame pivoted to the main frame, joint-forming mechanism carried by the auxiliary frame and movable thereby into and out of active relationship with respect to the overlapping binderportions, a reaction handle rigidly carried by the auxiliary frame, a latch for holding the auxiliary frame in'position to retain the joint-forming mechanism out of active relationship with respect to the overlapping binder portions and releasable to permit the auxiliary frame to be moved to bring the joint-forming mechanism into active relationship with respect to the overlapping binder portions, binder-tensioning mechanism, an actuating handle pivotally carried by the auxiliary frame to be reciprocable toward and from the reaction handle, operative connections between the actuating handle and the tensioning mechanism to enable reciprocation of saidhandle to operate the tensioning mechanism to tension the binder, and operative connections between the actuating handle and the joint-forming mechanism to enable said mechanism to be operated by said handle.

3. A package binder tool comprising a main frame for resting upon the package to be bound, an auxiliary frame pivotally carried by the main frame, binder-tensioning mechanism carried by the auxiliary frame to engage the binder and tension the same, a binder sealing mechanism carried by the auxiliary frame, a pivotal connection between the two frames permitting the auxiliary frame to be moved to bring the sealing mechanism into and out of active relationship with respect to the binder, a latch for retaining the auxiliary frame in position to hold the sealing mechanism out of active relationship to the binder, and a single actuating handle pivotally carried by the auxiliary frame and acting simultaneously upon the tensioning mechanism and the sealing mechanism, said latch serving to hold the sealing mechanism out' of active relationship to the binder to render it ineffective during the tensioning operation.

4. A package binding tool comprising a main frame for resting on a package to be bound, an auxiliary frame pivotally carried by the main frame, binder-tensioning mechanism carried by the auxiliary frame to engage the binder and tension the same, binder sealing mechanism carried by the auxiliaryframe and movable thereby into and out of active relationship with respect to the binder, an actuating handle for operating the tensioning and sealing mechanisms, by like handle movements, means for retaining the sealing mechanism out of active relationship to the binder when the binder is being tensioned and means for rendering the actuating handle ineffective to operate the tensioning mechanism when the sealing' mechanism is in active relationship with respect to the binder.

5. A package binding tool comprising a main frame for resting on a package to be bound, an auxiliary frame pivotally carried by the main frame, a rotatable binder-tensioning mechanism, a ratchet wheel associated with the tensioning mechanism, a pawl for engaging the ratchet wheel to rotate the tensioning mechanism, a handle pivotally carried by the auxiliary frame and attached to the pawl for operating the same, binder sealing mechanism carried by the auxiliary frame and movable thereby into and out of active relationship with respect to the binder, an operative connection between the actuating handle and the sealing mechanism whereby operation of the handle operates the sealing mechanism, and means for withdrawing the pawl from the ratchet wheel to render the same ineifective to operate the tensioning mechanism when the auxiliary frame is moved tobring the sealing mechanism into active relationship with respect to the binder. 6. A package binding tool comprising a main frame having a foot to rest on a package to be bound and to underlie overlapping portions of binder looped about the package, an auxiliary frame pivotally carried by the main frame, a feed wheel movable toward and from the foot of the main frame to provide accommodation for the overlapping binder portions and grip the same against the foot and rotatable to move the upper of said binder portions relative to the lower portion to tension the binder, means for moving the feed wheel toward and from the foot of the main frame, an actuating handle, ratchet mechanism between the actuating handle and the feed wheel whereby actuation of the handle rotates the feed wheel, a binder sealing mechanism carried by the auxiliary frame and movable thereby into and out of active relationship with respect to overlapping binder portions resting on the foot of the main frame, operative connections between the actuating handle and the sealing mechanism whereby the handle operates the sealing mechanism, and means for disconnecting the ratchet mechanism from the feed wheel to render the feed wheel ineffective to tension the binder when the actuating handle is operated with the sealing mechanism in active relationship with respect to the overlapping binder portions.

'7. A combined tensioning and joint-forming tool for package binding, wherein the forces required of the operator both to tension the binder and to form a joint between overlapping portions thereof are directed away from the package being bound, comprising a main frame,- an auxiliary frame pivoted to the main frame, binder tensioning mechanism and joint forming mechanism carried by the auxiliary frame, a reaction handle rigidly carried by the auxiliary frame, and an actuating handle pivoted to the auxiliary frame and located between the reaction'handle and package position and operable to actuate the tensioning mechanism to tension the binder and to actuate the joint forming mechanism by movements toward the reaction handle and away from the package.

, ARMANI) PERRELET. 

